Number of "light otaku" and intertwining of geek and mainstream media credited

It looks like otaku men in Japan need not be "forever alone!" For a recent entry in an ongoing series of surveys on love and relationships, Sankei Living Newspaper conducted a poll asking women 94 women if they could bring themselves to be in a relationship with a guy who’s an otaku. 77% replied in the affirmative.

The researchers credited the growing number of women who are “light otaku" for contributing to the response. Nor does it hurt that anime, video games, and manga have become intertwined with mainstream Japanese pop culture, with top-tier musicians singing their theme songs and hit TV dramas and movie adaptations being made.

“It’s easier for a couple to understand each other if they share a hobby, and being into the same thing makes it more fun to experience together,” explained one woman.

The caveat is that while a man can have his otaku interests, many surveyed women qualified their responses, saying that the guy has to dress to mainstream standards and not look like a stereotypical geek.